The Long Island VA healthcare facility has closed its operating rooms after sand-size black particles fell from air ducts, according to an article on The New York Times website.
A few operating rooms were reopened for a few weeks in April, but they were again shuttered and sealed off with yellow caution tape because contamination returned.
An environmental analysis found that the particulates came from oxidizing metal and crumbling concrete in the building’s duct system, which was built in the early 1970s.
The operating room contaminants were linked to the facility's decaying building. Low concentrations of fiberglass fibers were also detected.
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